r was locked, for the women had
gone out to see the tourney, and though Arthur tried his best to get
in he could not. Then he rode away in great anger, and said to
himself, 'Kay shall not be without a sword this day. I will take that
sword in the churchyard, and give it to him'; and he galloped fast
till he reached the gate of the churchyard. Here he jumped down and
tied his horse tightly to a tree, then, running up to the stone, he
seized the handle of the sword, and drew it easily out; afterwards he
mounted his horse again, and delivered the sword to Sir Kay. The
moment Sir Kay saw the sword he knew it was not his own, but the sword
of the stone, and he sought out his father Sir Ector, and said to him,
'Sir, this is the sword of the stone, therefore I am the rightful
King.' Sir Ector made no answer, but signed to Kay and Arthur to
follow him, and they all three went back to the church. Leaving their
horses outside, they entered the choir, and here Sir Ector took a holy
book and bade Sir Kay swear how he came by that sword. 'My brother
Arthur gave it to me,' replied Sir Kay. 'How did you come by it?'
asked Sir Ector, turning to Arthur. 'Sir,' said Arthur, 'when I rode
home for my brother's sword I found no one to deliver it to me, and as
I resolved he should not be swordless I thought of the sword in
this stone, and I pulled it out.' 'Were any Knights present when you
did this?' asked Sir Ector. 'No, none,' said Arthur. 'Then it is you,'
said Sir Ector, 'who are the rightful King of this land.' 'But why am
I the King?' inquired Arthur. 'Because,' answered Sir Ector, 'this is
an enchanted sword, and no man could draw it but he who was born a
King. Therefore put the sword back into the stone, and let me see you
take it out.' 'That is soon done,' said Arthur replacing the sword,
and Sir Ector himself tried to draw it, but he could not. 'Now it is
your turn,' he said to Sir Kay, but Sir Kay fared no better than his
father, though he tugged with all his might and main. 'Now you,
Arthur,' and Arthur pulled it out as easily as if it had been lying in
its sheath, and as he did so Sir Ector and Sir Kay sank on their knees
before him. 'Why do you, my father and brother, kneel to me?' asked
Arthur in surprise. 'Nay, nay, my lord,' answered Sir Ector, 'I was
never your father, though till to-day I did not know who your father
really was. You are the son of Uther Pendragon, and you were brought
to me when you were born by Merlin him